Saturday Night Live -- Paul Rudd and Musical Guest Paul McCartney -- 12/11/10 -- a Review

SNL decided they couldn't go more than a month without Fred Armisen's terrible Obama. In a speech from the Oval Office, he indicates that he was held hostage by the Republicans on taxes..... literally. And because of the Stockholm syndrome, he's now touting the Republican line. The words are amusing, but Fred Armisen's Obama is so lackluster the sketch is just not funny.

Monologue -- Paul Rudd -- 5

A rather obvious monologue about Paul being so excited because all week people have been calling out his name, talking to him about "yesterday", which he assumes is because of an interview on NPR, and more. Then Paul McCartney comes to set him straight, as does SNL Featured Player Paul Brittain. Slight.

Feline Culinary Creations -- 7

A great parody of those "gourmet" cat food commercials with fine chefs preparing disgusting cat food meals.

The Kissing Vogelchecks -- 6

SNL goes to the kissing family sketch yet again, as a family that's just a bit too close, lingers far too long when kissing each other. The kisses progress into groping, sharing gum, and worse. Yes, the joke is the same every time they do this sketch, and yet it's still mildly amusing to see Paul Rudd, Fred Armisen, and Bill Hader making out.

What's That Name -- 7

Another SNL Game Show Parody (patent pending), this time where contestants try to guess the name of people. After a few obscure celebrity pictures, the contestants are introduced to people from their daily lives, including their doormen, maids, and interns and asked what their names are, with predictably bad results. Funny premise.

SNL -- Digital Short -- Stumblin' -- 8

To the tune of 9 to 5, Paul Rudd and Andy Samburg stumble through a video, then wind up in a video with Paul McCartney singing "Take My Breath Away" and playing a small harmonica. Incredibly goofy, stupid, and fun.

Julian -- 9

Bill Hader plays Julian Assange as a cocky brit, threatening to hurt certain websites with hacker attacks, including taking down your Facebook picture where you look thin, putting the fourth season of Hanging With Mr. Cooper 1st in your Netflix queue, and turning your Angry Birds into Good Natured Birds. Clever.

Sexually Speaking -- 2

Once again, Dr. Linda, the host of the show is replaced by Fred Armisen playing the somewhat deaf and insensitive producer Roger Brush. Seriously, are the writers that asleep at the switch they have to bring this crappy sketch back?

Paul McCartney -- Jet -- 5

I saw Paul McCartney on 2/9/90, a date I remember because it was the anniversary of the Beatles' Ed Sullivan appearance. He was animated, his band was tight, and the show was great. This is not that show. A horrible sound mix kills a song Macca has played to death, and Paul's voice sounds pretty rough compared to even just a few years ago. The band also seems to be thrashing about. But hey, it's a Beatle.

Weekend Update -- 7

Paul McCartney shows up to do an audio caption of the protester attack on Camilla and Prince Charles over a picture of the two, which is pretty funny. Bill Hader shows up as the City Correspondence Stefon to discuss in his effeminate, breathy voice, the absolutely bizare things people do in the city, including a "human parking cone", leading to this exchange:

"What's a human parking cone?"

"It's that thing where two jacked midgets paint themselves orange and you parallel park between them."

Stefon is just about the only recurring character on Weekend Update that makes me laugh because Hader and/or the writers come up with such bizarre things for him to talk about and Hader seems to have a ball doing it. It redeems another Weekend Update devoid of great news jokes.

Funny line:

In an interview this week, Oprah Winfrey denies she is a lesbian saying, "I'm not even kind of a lesbian." Said Barbara Walters, "I haven't even asked you a question yet."

Holiday Festival -- 4

A pathetic urban school Christmas festival is introduced by a teacher played by Paul Rudd. Jay Pharoah enters as a principal to provide breathy commentary on problems that keep cropping up during the show. Unfortunately, Pharoah kills what could have been a funny sketch with constant heavy breathing. It's one thing to try and create a funny character, it's another when the tics get in the way of the jokes.

Meryl Streep On Ice -- 5

Abby Elliott plays Meryl Streep, who has "skated twice in my life" doing incredible skating routines and wowing audiences. Abby does a great Meryl in a lame sketch.

Paul McCartney -- Band on the Run -- 2

Paul's voice is shot and he sounds breathless. The band sounds bored to be playing the song for what is probably the thousandth time. I was hoping for something better than this from Paul tonight.

Audition - Spotlight Guy -- 7

Jason Sudekis plays an angry spotlight operator who won't follow Paul Rudd with his light, berating him for his performance of the MC in Cabaret. Sudekis gets away with a line that probably will get an FCC fine, and says some funny zingers, including a Clueless joke. Slight, but given tonight's other output, I'll take the laughs where I get them.

Paul McCartney -- A Day in the Life/Give Peace A Chance -- 4

Third time is a charm as Paul does Lennon's song from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, or so it seems until he segues into the horrid Give Peace a Chance at a funereal pace.

Paul McCartney -- Get Back -- 7

Paul's most energetic performance gets axed midway through by NBC. Thanks.

Overall

I had high hopes for this episode. Paul Rudd is naturally funny and Paul McCartney is one of my favorites. Sadly, Paul Rudd is given little to do and Paul McCartney simply looked old and ready for retirement. Other than a funny turn by Bill Hader, tonight's episode was disappointing.